HC Deb 22 July 1975 vol 896 cc276-7
8. Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the system under which boys of 16 years of age can bind themselves to serve in the Army for periods of up to six years.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Army (Mr. Robert C. Brown)

No, Sir. This matter was reviewed recently by Lord Donaldson's Committee on Boy Entrants and Young Servicemen, and the Army's terms of engagement now incorporate certain options designed to safeguard the interests of junior entrants.

Mr. Gould

Will my hon. Friend accept that in any case it is to the advantage of neither the Army nor the boy concerned that the boy should be kept in the Army against his will and that it cannot do any good for the Army's long-term recruiting prospects? How does my hon. Friend justify the use of the police to enforce this sort of obligation, as has been illustrated recently in the case of a 17-year-old constituent of mine? Is it not time that contracts of service contained the normal civilised provisions for termination by either side on the giving of adequate notice?

Mr. Brown

There are two issues involved. First, it is fair to say and to expect that a young man of 17 years will feel the pangs of homesickness and so on. In my view it would not be good to concede immediate release for a boy who was feeling the pangs of homesickness because it would probably deprive him of the opportunity to have a worthwhile and rewarding career later in life.

Enlistment into the Armed Forces does not involve entering into a contract. The engagement of members of the Armed Forces is at the discretion of the Crown. Consequently the law relating to contracts as it affects citizens does not apply.

Mr. Thompson

Although I recognise that Scottish law allows a 16-year-old to enter into the lifelong commitment of matrimony, may I ask whether the Minister agrees that many 16-year-olds are too immature psychologically to enter into even six-year commitments in the Armed Services, especially bearing in mind the alluring advertisements used by the Services to attract these young men which fail to point out that they will be trained to kill and to be killed?

Mr. Brown

I accept what the hon. Gentleman has said about the immaturity of 16-year-olds. That is exactly why all junior entrants may leave as of right at any time during the first six months of service.